Wide local excision of acanthomatous epulides in the dog

Twenty-five dogs bearing acanthomatous epulides of the oral cavity underwent tumor resection by wide local excision. The surgical procedures included rostral mandibulectomy, removal of the mandibular body, premaxillectomy, and partial maxillectomy. Postoperative complications were rare, and local recurrence was not encountered in any dogs over periods of 1 to 6 1/2 years (median, 22 months). The authors conclude from the high incidence of local recurrence after simple excision through the tumor margins and the potential for malignant transformation after irradiation that wide surgical resection is the technique of choice for the management of acanthomatous epulis.